Wiltshire

Wiltshire's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in health and housing tenure.

The population passed 470,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Wiltshire increased by 8.8%, from just under 433,000 to 471,000.

The addition of about 38,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wiltshire was home to, on average, 1 person per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Health improved

The percentage of people in ’good’ or ’very good’ health increased in Wiltshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good, as the regional average grew from 69% to 82%.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) in Wiltshire said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.6% to 4.1%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’good’ or ’very good’ health was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that that said their health was good or very good across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Long hour working fell in Wiltshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of people working long hours, as the regional average fell from 13% to 10%.

During this period, Wiltshire overtook eight local authority areas, including Torridge and South Hams, to become the South West local authority area with the third-highest percentage of long hours workers.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Wiltshire said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 15% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.9% to 2.8%.

Long hour working was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

This area saw the South West's second-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

Across the region, only South Gloucestershire saw a greater rise in the proportion of single-parent households (from 7.5% to 9.4%).

During this period, Wiltshire overtook 15 local authority areas, including Torridge and Forest of Dean, to become the South West local authority area with the eighth-highest percentage of single-parent households.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (9.0%) households in Wiltshire had a single parent, compared with 7.3% in 2001. The percentage with a married couple decreased from 43% to 40%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Wiltshire that rented privately increased from 11% to 15% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households lived in social housing, compared with 14% in 2001. The percentage of Wiltshire households that owner their home decreased from 72% to 68%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11% in 2001 to 17% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Wiltshire increased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Wiltshire, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Employment in Wiltshire

The percentage of employed people changed very little in Wiltshire, while the proportion fell in nearby Test Valley.

In Wiltshire, the proportion of employed people decreased from 58% in 2001 to 57% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Test Valley decreased from 60% to 58%.

Across the South West, the share of employed people increased from 53% to 53%.

The rate of unemployment in Wiltshire increased from 2.0% to 2.9%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 10% to 11%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links